Page 58 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

“When the time comes,” I say quietly, “I’ll hold you to that promise. The house, the peaceful life… all of it.”

As we continue our walk through the Highlands, the crisp air fills my lungs and clears my mind. The beauty of this place is overwhelming, and I feel a sense of calm I haven’t felt in a long time. Even in the peace of the moment, my thoughts drift to everything happening back home. There’s so much going on—so much still left unresolved.

I glance over at Maxim as he walks beside me, his expression relaxed but his eyes always alert. He’s in a rare good mood, maybe because he can sense how much I’m enjoying this place. Or maybe it’s because, for once, things seem to be going well. At least for now.

“The foundation’s doing well,” I say, breaking the silence. “The team sent me an update before we left. The sustainability initiative we started is already gaining traction.”

Maxim nods, his gaze flicking toward me. “That’s good. You’ve put a lot of work into it.”

I smile softly. The Sophia Sharov Foundation had become something of a lifeline for me. It gave me purpose outside of the Mafia, outside of the chaos that seemed to dominate everyother part of our lives. Knowing that I was making a difference—however small—in the world, kept me grounded.

“It’s more than just me,” I say. “There’s a great team behind it. They’ve been pushing for more environmental conservation projects. We’re partnering with more organizations. It’s growing faster than I ever expected.”

“You should be proud,” he says, his voice gruff but sincere. “You’ve built something good.”

I feel a swell of pride at his words, but my thoughts soon shift to other things. “The alliance… it’s working, isn’t it? I mean, Kristen’s doing well with the businesses.”

Maxim nods, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. “Kristen’s smart. He’s kept your father’s businesses running smoothly. The alliance with the Americans has strengthened both sides. We have more resources now. More influence.”

I nod, grateful that Kristen has been able to handle the responsibilities that came with taking over my father’s empire. It’s strange to think that everything my father built is now in Kristen’s hands, but I trust him. He’s always been like family to me.

“The Italians have been quiet lately,” I murmur, thinking of how everything went down with Don Fernando.

Maxim glances at me, his expression hardening slightly. “For now.”

I can’t help but wonder about Chiara, Don Fernando’s daughter. She was ruthless, almost too much for me to handle. “Do you think we need to worry about her? Chiara, I mean.”

Maxim’s jaw tightens, and I can see the flicker of calculation in his eyes. “Fernando’s children are back in Italynow. They’re staying low for the time being. Don’t think they’ve forgotten. Revenge is a disease—it spreads, festers. They’ll come back for us when they’re ready.”

I shiver slightly, despite the warmth of the sun. I know Maxim’s right. Revenge doesn’t die easily. “So what do we do?”

“We prepare,” he says simply. “We don’t let our guard down. We stay ahead of them.”

His words are practical, but I can feel the weight of them settling in my chest. Even out here, in the middle of the Highlands, surrounded by peace and beauty, the shadow of our lives lingers. The Mafia is never far behind, no matter how far we try to run.

“What about Chiara?” I ask quietly. “Do you think she’ll try to come for us?”

Maxim’s gaze darkens, his jaw clenching slightly. “Chiara’s dangerous, but she’s also smart. She’ll know that coming after us now would be suicide. If she ever does… I’ll deal with her.”

There’s a finality in his tone that makes me believe him. I trust Maxim, even when the world around us feels uncertain.

We walk in silence for a while longer, the landscape stretching out before us, endless and untamed. Despite everything we’ve been through—despite the dangers that still loom on the horizon—there’s a sense of hope here. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the isolation, or maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m truly building something for myself. For us.

“We’ll be okay,” I say softly, more to reassure myself than anything.

Maxim stops walking and turns to face me, his eyes locking on mine. “We will,” he says firmly, as if daring anything to contradict him.

I nod, feeling a surge of confidence at his words. As long as we’re together, we can face whatever comes next. Whether it’s the Italians, the future of the foundation, or raising our child—we’ll handle it.

We start walking again, and I find myself smiling. Things aren’t perfect, but they’re better than they’ve been in a long time. For once, I feel like we’re on solid ground.

“I’ll make sure we stay ahead of the Italians,” Maxim adds after a long silence. “But don’t let it worry you. Focus on the foundation. On the baby. I’ll handle the rest.”

I nod, letting his words sink in. “I just hope Chiara doesn’t come back anytime soon. I don’t want to deal with her.”

“She won’t,” Maxim says, his tone final. “If she does, she’ll regret it.”

I don’t doubt that. If anyone can protect us, it’s him.

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